Neck injury ends Johnathan Franklin's career

Green Bay --- The career of Johnathan Franklin, a fourth-round pick in the 2013 draft, is over due to a neck injury he suffered last season.

On Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy said the running back "will not be back with us," and then Franklin himself wrote in a note on Twitter that he'd be forced to retire.

"First off, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me upon getting to this part of my life," Franklin wrote. "(It) has been a tremendous blessing. Unfortunately this week I have been ruled out of returning for the 2014/15 season and returning to play in the NFL. But I understand God knows what he is doing and for now he has another platform for me to step upon."

Franklin was placed on injured reserve last season after suffering a "concussion/neck" injury in the Packers' Week 12 tie against Minnesota.

The running back who came into the NFL with Franklin, Eddie Lacy, indicated that Franklin is in good spirits.

"We were definitely sad," Lacy said. "He shot everybody in the running back group a text. It just makes you cherish the moments that you get to play. We came in together. We got to know each other real good. We spent a lot of time together and he was just starting. Just like that, as fast as you get it, it can be taken away.

"From talking to him and still being around him, I know he has a great personality. He's going to be down a little bit, but that's just with any player. But he's definitely going to remain positive and keep his faith."

As Lacy soared, Franklin struggled to get onto the field as a rookie. He did break out for 103 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown in Green Bay's Week 3 loss at Cincinnati, but only had six carries in his next eight games.

He'll now be pursuing something else in life. Long ago -- before the draft -- Franklin expressed his desire to become a mayor of Los Angeles.

"I know whatever he does after this," Lacy said, "he's going to give it his all."

Talking to Franklin about the injury, Lacy said it's "hard to find words." It's another reminder that the game can be taken away from a player at any given moment. Lacy said he had those dark thoughts cross his mind after his Week 2 concussion against the Washington Redskins.

"It definitely makes you think, especially at our position because we're getting hit from a bunch of different angles by a bunch of big guys," Lacy said. "So you just have to continue to pray and keep your faith but you never know when your last play's going to be."

Without Franklin, the Packers remain relatively stable at the running back position. This injury also is a sign why the Packers paid up to re-sign James Starks.

Harris has been a full go all spring, back from his season-ending knee injury. Green Bay likes its depth.

“That position has a number of good guys," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said earlier this week. "You have Eddie and James, who played well last year. DuJuan’s back and he looks completely healthy. He flashes. And then the younger guys, when they’ve gotten in there, they’ve shown they have ability, too. It’s a deep group at the running back position and it will be fun to see them compete in camp.”

They won't see Franklin, whose pro career has been cut short to injury.

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.